Trailer and method

ABSTRACT

A trailer and a method for loading a trailer onto a transport vehicle. The trailer is elevated, causing a rear axle assembly of the trailer to pivot from a forward position to a position that is generally normal to the trailer frame. A front wheel axle assembly is rotated upwardly, and the trailer is then subsequently slid/or pushed along a generally planar bed surface of the transport vehicle. The end of the bed surface contacts the rear axle assembly during the sliding process, and with continuing sliding the rear axle assembly moves from a normal position to a rearward position.

This is a continuation patent application of patent application havingSer. No. 08/811,112, filed Mar. 3, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,831.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a trailer and a method. Morespecifically, the present invention provides for a trailer and a methodfor loading and unloading a trailer from a transport vehicle. Thetrailer may be employed for any purpose, such as for supporting farmequipment (e.g. combines, etc.) or for any other purpose readilydiscernible to those skilled in the art.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Trailers with frames to haul headers have been produced and used formany years. In the past headers were towed on trailers behind trucks.However, now harvesters need to tow grain trailers with the header andtrailer inside the grain trailer because of the change in the wayharvesting equipment is transported. This eliminates the need for anextra truck to tow the header on a header trailer. What is needed andwhat has been invented is an improved trailer and improved method forloading the trailer onto a transport vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention accomplishes its desired objects by broadlyproviding a method for loading a trailer onto a transport vehiclecomprising the steps of:

a) providing a transport vehicle having a generally planar bed surfaceterminating in a bed edge;

b) providing a trailer having a frame with a rear axle assemblypivotally secured to the frame and in a forward position;

c) elevating the frame, causing the rear axle assembly to pivot from theforward position to a position that is generally normal to the frame;

d) sliding the trailer along the generally planar bed surface until thebed edge contacts the rear axle assembly; and

e) continuing the sliding step (d) to move the rear axle assembly fromthe normal position to a rearward position in order to load the traileronto the transport vehicle.

The present invention also accomplishes its desired objects by broadlyproviding a method for transporting a trailer to a desired destinationin a transport vehicle comprising the steps of:

a) providing a transport vehicle having a generally planar bed surfaceterminating in a bed edge;

b) providing a trailer comprising a frame including a front frameportion and a rear frame portion, a front axle assembly rotatablysecured to the frame in an operative position (i.e., a ground transportposition) including a front wheel rotatably connected thereto andsupported by a foundation, and a rear axle assembly including pair ofrear axle arms pivotally connected to the frame in a first position andhaving a pair of rear wheels rotatably connected thereto and supportedby a foundation;

c) elevating the trailer of step (b) until the rear wheels are removedfrom the foundation, causing, the rear axle arms to gravitatively pivotdownwardly into a second position;

d) rotating the front axle assembly into a stored position (i.e., ahighway transport position) from the operative position;

e) disposing the front frame portion on the generally planar bedsurface;

f) sliding the trailer including the front frame portion along thegenerally planar bed surface;

g) moving the rear axle arms from the second position into a thirdposition by contacting the rear axle arms with the bed edge andcontinuing the sliding step (f) of the trailer along the generallyplanar bed surface in order to load the trailer in the transportvehicle; and

h) moving the transport vehicle to a desired destination.

The present invention further accomplishes its desired objects bybroadly providing a trailer comprising a frame; a rear wheel assemblypivotally connected to the frame; and a front wheel assembly rotatablysecured to the frame. The front wheel assembly comprises a firstcylindrical member having a transverse opening; and a first sleevemember rotatably mounted on the first cylindrical member. The traileralso includes a second cylindrical member; and a spindle coupled to thesecond cylindrical member for rotatably supporting at least one wheel. Asecond sleeve member is rotatably mounted on the second cylindricalmember; and at least one sleeve bracket is connected to the first sleevemember and to the second sleeve member. At least one pin bracket issecured to the sleeve bracket and has a structure defining a bracketopening. A pin member passes through the bracket opening and through thetransverse opening.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a wheelassembly.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a trailer.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a methodfor loading a trailer onto a transport vehicle and a method fortransporting a trailer to the desired destination.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features whichwill become apparent to those skilled in the art as the followingdescription proceeds, are attained by this novel trailer and method, apreferred embodiment thereof shown with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, by way of example only, wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an end perspective view of the trailer with a combine headerin the process of being loaded upon the trailer;

FIG. 2 is an end perspective view of an end of the trailer opposite tothe end depicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the front wheel axle assemblyincluding a hitch member secured thereto;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the trailer loaded with a combineheader and with the rear axle assembly disposed in a forward position(i.e. the ground transport position) and with a forklift apparatus inthe process of being positioned to lift the trailer to load same into atransport vehicle;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the trailer loaded with the combineheader after the forklift apparatus has lifted the rear frame portion ofthe trailer and after the rear axle assembly has moved from the forwardposition (i.e. the ground transport position) to a position that isgenerally normal or perpendicular to the frame of the trailer;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the loaded trailer of FIG. 5 in theprocess of being slid along a generally planar bed surface of atransport vehicle with the rear axle assembly engaging a bed edge suchthat as the forklift apparatus continues to push and/or slide the loadedtrailer, the rear axle assembly is being pivotally moved from the normalor perpendicular position of FIG. 5 to a rearward position (i.e. ahighway transport position);

FIG. 7 is a top plan view of the trailer of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the trailer of FIG. 7 with thedotted line representation of the front wheel axle assembly and the rearaxle assembly representing the highway transport position;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the front wheel assembly in thedown or ground transport position;

FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the front wheel assembly with thearrows indicating possible paths of rotation about or around alongitudinal axis of the trailer to place the front wheel assembly inthe dotted line representation in FIG. 8 or in the highway transportposition which is for when the trailer is loaded into a transportvehicle;

FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of arrows alongthe plane of line 11--11 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is a front elevational view taken in direction of the arrows andalong the plane of line 12--12 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 13 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrowsand along the plane of line 13--13 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 14 is a horizontal sectional view taken in direction of the arrowsand along the plane of line 14--14 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 15 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrowsand along the plane of line 15--15 in FIG. 9;

FIG. 16 is a vertical sectional view taken in direction of the arrowsand along the plane of line 16--16 in FIG. 7;

FIG. 17 is a side elevational view of the hitch member having a femalehitch section telescopically receiving a male hitch section and pinnedtogether by a pin;

FIG. 18 is a side elevational view of the hitch member of FIG. 17 afterthe male hitch section has been slideably extended from the female hitchsection and pinned together by a pin to affix the female hitch sectionand the male hitch section together;

FIG. 19 is a top plan view of the rear axle assembly;

FIG. 20 is a side elevational view of the front wheel axle assembly withthe generally upright cylindrical member sloped at an angle forward toprevent the trailer from wobbling when being towed;

FIG. 21 is a partial side elevational view of the trailer with thedotted line representation being the bending or bowing of the trailerframe in the event that the rear axle assembly is not rotated from arearward position (i.e. the highway transport position) to a forwardposition (i.e. the operative or ground transport position) which willmaintain and keep the trailer frame straight in order to transport thetrailer on the highway without the trailer frame flexing during highwaytravel;

FIG. 22 is a partial perspective view of the trailer loaded with acombine header and after having been loaded into a transport vehiclewith the front wheel assembly in the up or highway transport positionand with the roller members rotatably resting on a pair of rails thatare supported by a planar bed surface of the transport vehicle; and

FIG. 23 is a side elevational view of a transport vehicle transportingthe trailer loaded with a combine header.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring in detail now to the drawings wherein similar parts of theinvention are identified by like reference numerals, there is seen atrailer, generally illustrated as 10, which is preferably for supportingand hauling combine headers, generally illustrated as 8, or any othersuitable farm equipment. The trailer 10 may be loaded into and out of atransport vehicle, generally illustrated as 80. The transport vehicle 80preferably has a generally planar bed surface 82 terminating in a bededge 84 and supporting a pair of rails 86--86.

The trailer 10 comprises a frame, generally illustrated as 12, having apair of longitudinal frame members 14-14, a center frame member 15, anda plurality of cross frame members 16 transversely extending across theframe 12 and connected to the longitudinal frame members 14--14. Theframe 12 further has a pair of support frame assemblies 18--18 which arethe primary support for the combine header 8.

Each support frame assembly 18, as best shown in FIG. 11, includes anacutely sloping frame section 22, a horizontal frame section 24internally bound to the acutely sloping frame section 22, and an uprightframe section 26 integrally bound to the horizontal frame section 24 andgenerally normal with respect thereto. Each support frame assembly 18also includes upstanding sections 28--28 connected to and supported bylongitudinal frame members 14--14 to support the acutely sloping framesection 22 in a sloping posture as shown in FIG. 11. A cross member 30is provided and is secured to one of the longitudinal frame members 14and to the horizontal frame section 24 (see FIG. 11 again).

The frame 12 consists of a front frame portion, generally illustrated as34, and a rear frame portion, generally illustrated as 38. A pair ofroller members 40--40 rotatably mounts to the pair of longitudinal framemembers 14--14 in the front frame portion 34. The roller members 40--40roll along the pair of rails 86--86, which are supported by the planarbed surface 82, as the trailer 10 is being loaded onto or unloaded offof the transport vehicle 80. A front axle assembly, generallyillustrated as 44, is secured to the frame 12, also in the front frameportion 34 thereof. A pair of rods 48--48 is connected to the pair oflongitudinal frame members 14--14 in the rear frame portion 38. A rearaxle assembly, generally illustrated as 50, is pivotally supported bythe pair of rods 48--48.

The rear axle assembly 50 includes a pair of axle arms 52--52 thatrespectively terminate in a hub or sleeve 54. The sleeves 54--54 mounton the rods 48--48 such that the rear axle assembly 50 may freelypivotally move through and into various positions which will beidentified below. The rear axle assembly 50 also includes a rear axle 58secured to the axle arms 52--52 for rotatably supporting a pair of rearwheels 62--62.

The rear axle assembly 50 has three (3) primary positions. The operativeor ground transport position (i.e. the forward position) is the positionrepresented by the solid slide representation of the rear axle assembly50 in FIGS. 4 and 8. The ground transport position of the rear axleassembly 50 is to prevent the frame 12 (especially the longitudinalframe members 14--14) from bending or bowing from the heavy load of thecombine header 8 or the like when the trailer 10 is being towed. Theground transport position also gives the trailer 10 more stability as itis being towed down a highway. The rearward or highway transportposition (i.e. the position where the trailer 10 is loaded onto thetransport vehicle 80) is represented by the solid representation of therear axle assembly 50 in FIG. 21. The highway transport position resultsafter the axle arms 52--52 have contacted the bed edge 84 and after aloading apparatus (e.g. a forklift apparatus 200 in FIGS. 4 and 5)continues to push and slide the trailer 10 along the planar bed surface82 of the transport vehicle 80. During the sliding process and as willbe further explained below, the roller members 40--40 are rolling on thepair of rails 86--86 after being rotatably placed thereon in order tofacilitate the sliding (and the loading or unloading) process. The thirdprimary position for the rear axle assembly 50 is a position where therear axle assembly 50, more specifically the axle arms 52--52, are in anormal or perpendicular position with respect the frame 12 including thelongitudinal frame members 14--14 associated therewith. This thirdposition as best shown in FIG. 21, results after a lifting apparatus(e.g. the forklift 200) has lifted and elevated the trailer 10,particularly the rear frame portion 38 of the trailer 10. When thelifting apparatus commences to lift the rear frame portion 38 of thetrailer 10, the rear axle assembly 50 commences to move in the path ofand in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 21. When the lifting orelevating apparatus has lifted the rear frame portion 38 high enough,the rear axle assembly 50 reaches the position of position A in FIG. 21.Stated alternatively, when the rear frame portion 38 is high enough offof a foundation or the ground, the weight of the rear wheels 62--62causes the rear axle assembly 50 (particularly the axle arms 52--52) togravitatively pivot downwardly into the position A of FIGS. 8 and 21. Aspreviously indicated, it is from this position A that the rear axleassembly 50 may be moved into the rearward or highway transport positionby disposing the roller members 40--40 on the rails 86--86 (after thefront wheel assembly 44 has been rotated about a longitudinal axis ofthe trailer 10), and subsequently pushing and/or sliding the trailer 10along the planar bed surface 82 (with the concomitant effect of theroller members 40--40 rolling along the rails 86--86) until the axlearms 52--52 contact the bed edge 84; whereafter and with continualpushing and/or sliding of the trailer 10 by the pushing and/or liftingapparatus, the rear axle assembly 50 (i.e. the axle arms 52--52) aremoved from the position A into the rearward or highway transportposition. The bed edge 84 functions as an abutment or stop member inthat the axle arms 52--52 abut against the bed edge 84 while the trailer10 is being slid and/or pushed along the planar bed surface 82.

The front wheel assembly 44, as best shown in FIG. 9, includes a shaftor cylindrical member 66 which is preferably horizontally disposed.Cylindrical member 66 has a transverse bore or opening 68 for removablereceiving a pin 70. A sleeve 72 is slideably and rotatably mounted toand around the cylindrical member 66. A pair of collars 74--74 issecured to and around the cylindrical member 66 to limit thelongitudinal movement of sleeve 72. A pair of sleeve brackets 76--76 issecured to the sleeve 72 as best shown in FIG. 13. A pair of pinbrackets 78--78 is respectively connected to the sleeve brackets 76--76as best shown in FIGS. 9 and 15. Each pin bracket 78 has an opening 88that is capable of being aligned with the transverse opening 68 suchthat the pin 70 may pass through the--openings 68 and 88.

The front wheel assembly 44 also includes a generally upright shaft orcylindrical member 90. Preferably and as best shown in FIG. 20, thecylindrical member 90 is slanted or sloped forward from a vertical planeat an angle to prevent the trailer 10 from wobbling when being towed.The angle ranges from about 1 to 10 degrees, more preferably from about3 to about 5 degrees. A sleeve 92 is slideably and rotatably mounted toand around the cylindrical member 90. A pair of collars 94--94 issecured to and around the cylindrical member 90 to limit thelongitudinal movement of sleeve 92. The sleeve brackets 76--76 areconnected to the sleeve 92 as best shown in FIG. 14. A spindle 98 issecured to the bottom of the cylindrical member 90 for rotatablysupporting a pair of front wheels 99--99. A pair of spaced hitchbrackets 100--100 connect to the cylindrical member 90 between thespindle 98 and the lowermost collar 94 in order to releasable connect ahitch assembly, generally illustrated as 102, to the front wheelassembly 44 with the aid of a pin 110 (see FIG. 18).

The hitch assembly 102 includes a female section 114 and a male section116 telescopically engaging the female section 114 and terminating in apair of spaced plates 118--118, each including an aperture (not shown)where through a hitch pin 120 may pass for hooking the trailer 10 to atow vehicle. The hitch assembly 102 also includes a pin 130 thatreleasably engages the female section 114 to the male section 116.

The front wheel assembly 44 may be rotated from the solid line position(i.e. the ground transport position) depicted in FIGS. 9 and 15 to thedotted line position (i.e. the stored or highway transport position)depicted in FIGS. 8 and 15 by removing the pin 70 from within theopenings of 68 and 88; and subsequently rotating the sleeve 72(including the dependently attached brackets 70, 76, cylindrical member90 and its associated sleeve 92, along with the spindle 98 and the frontwheels 99) in direction of arrow C or arrow D in FIG. 15 and about alongitudinal axis of the trailer 10. After the front wheel assembly 44has reached its elevated position, the pin 70 may be reinserted throughthe opening 68 and 88 in order to hold the front wheel assembly 44 inits elevated position.

Continuing to refer to the drawings for operation of the invention andthe method of loading the trailer 10 onto a transport vehicle 80, thetransport vehicle 80 is obtained with the generally planar bed surface82 that terminates in the bed edge 84. The trailer 10 is supported bythe ground with the rear axle assembly 50 in the forward or groundtransport position. The trailer 10 is then elevated by any suitablelifting apparatus, such as forklift 200.

After the trailer 10 has been elevated, the front wheel assembly 44 isto be rotatably pivoted from the ground transport position (as shown inFIG. 9) to the highway transport position, as best shown by the dottedline representations in FIGS. 8 and 15. To elevate the front wheelassembly 44, pin 70 is removed from within the openings 68 and 88 (seeFIG. 15); this unlocks the front wheel assembly 44 and permits thesleeve 72 to either rotate clockwise (i.e. in direction of arrow D inFIG. 15) or counter clockwise (i.e. in direction of arrow C in FIG. 15).Such rotation is conveniently performed either by grasping the frontwheel assembly 44 at a convenient location (e.g. at the sleeve 92 or atthe hitch assembly 102) and counter clockwise or clockwise rotating andmoving the following elements or parts of the front wheel assembly 44about a longitudinal axis of the trailer lo: brackets 76 and 78, sleeve92, cylindrical member 90, the spindle 98, the front wheels 99--99,brackets 100--100 and the hitch assembly 102. After the front wheelassembly 44 has been rotated approximately 180 degrees, or into aposition which is generally diametrically opposite (or the mirror imageof) the ground transport position, the pin is subsequently slid throughthe openings 68 and 88 (after the openings 68 and 88 have beenrealigned) to affix the front wheel assembly 44 in the highway transportposition, or in the position represented by dotted lines in FIGS. 8 and15.

When the trailer 10 including its associated frame 12 is lifted, therear axle assembly 50 pivots from the forward position to the position Athat is generally normal to the frame 12 (see in FIGS. 8 and 21). Theroller members 40--40 are disposed on the rails 86--86, and subsequentlythe trailer 10 is pushed and/or slid along the generally planar bedsurface 82 until the bed edge 84 comes in contact with the rear axleassembly 50; more specifically until the bed edge 84 comes in contactwith the axle arms 52--52 of the rear axle assembly 50.

After the rear axle assembly 50 including its associated axle as 52--52have come in contact with the bed edge 84, the trailer 10 is continuallypushed/slid along the general planar surface 82 to cause the rear axleassembly 50 to move from the normal position (i.e. the position A inFIGS. 8 and 21) to a rearward position or highway transport positionwhich is represented by the dotted line representation of the rear axleassembly 50 in FIG. 21. The sliding of the trailer 10 along the planarbed surface 82 has the associated affect of causing the roller members40--40 to roll on the rails 86--86. Obviously, the roller members 40--40may be employed without the rails 86--86 such that the trailer 10 may beloaded onto the transport vehicle 80 by merely rolling the rollermembers 40--40 along the planar bed surface 82.

After the trailer 10 has been loaded onto the transport vehicle 80, thetransport vehicle 80 may be moved to a desired destination, where thetrailer 10 may be conveniently unloaded from the transport vehicle 80 bymerely reversing the forgoing steps. Unloading would include rolling theroller members 40--40 along the rails 86--86, and causing the pivotationof the rear axle arms 52--52 from the rearward position (or the highwaytransport position) to the position A. The rear wheels 62--62 are thenplaced on a foundation or ground and the rear axle arms 52--52 arecaused to be moved from position A to the ground transport position asbest shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 by the solid line representation of the axlearms 52--52.

Thus, while the present invention has been described herein withreference to particular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification,various changes and substitutions are intended in the foregoingdisclosure, and it will be appreciated that in some instances somefeatures of the invention will be employed without a corresponding useof other features without department from the scope of the invention asset forth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A trailer comprising a frame; a rear wheelassembly pivotally connected to the frame; and a front wheel assemblyrotatably secured to the frame, said front wheel assembly comprising afirst cylindrical member having a transverse opening; a first sleevemember rotatably mounted on said first cylindrical member; a secondcylindrical member; a towbar pivotally connected to the secondcylindrical member; a spindle coupled to said second cylindrical memberfor rotatably supporting at least one wheel; a second sleeve memberrotatably mounted on said second cylindrical member; at least one sleevebracket connected to said first sleeve member and to said second sleevemember; at least one pin bracket secured to said sleeve bracket andhaving a structure defining a bracket opening; and a pin member passingthrough said bracket opening and through said transverse opening.
 2. Thetrailer of claim 1 wherein said frame comprises a pair of longitudinalframe members and a pair of rollers rotatably supported by said pair oflongitudinal frame members.
 3. The trailer of claim 2 additionallycomprising a pair of support frame assemblies supported by said pair oflongitudinal frame members.
 4. The trailer of claim 1 additionallycomprising a pair of rods secured to said frame for pivotally supportingsaid rear wheel assembly, and said rear wheel assembly comprising a pairof sleeves rotatably secured to said pair of rods, and a pair of axlearms secured to said pair of sleeves, and a rear axle coupled to saidpair of axle arms.
 5. The trailer of claim 1 wherein said secondcylindrical member is sloped from a plane at an angle .
 6. The trailerof claim 5 wherein said angle ranges from about 1 degree to 10 degrees.7. The trailer of claim 5 wherein said angle ranges from about 3 degreesto about 5 degrees.
 8. The trailer of claim 1 additionally comprising apair of first collars secured to said first cylindrical member such thatsaid first sleeve member is rotatably disposed therebetween.
 9. Thetrailer of claim 8 additionally comprising a pair of second collarssecured to said second cylindrical member such that said second sleevemember is rotatably disposed therebetween.
 10. The trailer of claim 9additionally comprising at least one hitch bracket connected to saidsecond cylindrical member.
 11. The trailer of claim 8 additionallycomprising at least one hitch bracket connected to said secondcylindrical member.
 12. The trailer of claim 1 additionally comprising apair of collars secured to said second cylindrical member such that saidsecond sleeve member is rotatably disposed therebetween.
 13. The trailerof claim 12 additionally comprising at least one hitch bracket connectedto said second cylindrical member.
 14. The trailer of claim 1additionally comprising at least one hitch bracket connected to saidsecond cylindrical member.
 15. A wheel assembly comprising a firstcylindrical member having a transverse opening; a first sleeve memberrotatably mounted on said first cylindrical member; a second cylindricalmember; a spindle coupled to said second cylindrical member forrotatably supporting at least one wheel; a second sleeve memberrotatably mounted on said second cylindrical member; at least one sleevebracket connected to said first sleeve member and to said second sleevemember; at least one pin bracket secured to said sleeve bracket andhaving a structure defining a bracket opening; and a pin member passingthrough said bracket opening and through said transverse opening. 16.The wheel assembly of claim 15 wherein said second cylindrical member issloped from a plane at an angle .
 17. The wheel assembly of claim 16wherein said angle ranges from about 1 degree to 10 degrees.
 18. Thewheel assembly of claim 16 wherein said angle ranges from about 3degrees to about 5 degrees.
 19. The wheel assembly of claim 15additionally comprising a pair of first collars secured to said firstcylindrical member such that said first sleeve member is rotatablydisposed therebetween.
 20. The wheel assembly of claim 19 additionallycomprising a pair of second collars secured to said second cylindricalmember such that said second sleeve member is rotatably disposedtherebetween.
 21. The wheel assembly of claim 20 additionally comprisingat least one hitch bracket connected to said second cylindrical member.22. The wheel assembly of claim 19 additionally comprising at least onehitch bracket connected to said second cylindrical member.
 23. The wheelassembly of claim 15 additionally comprising a pair of collars securedto said second cylindrical member such that said second sleeve member isrotatably disposed therebetween.
 24. The wheel assembly of claim 23additionally comprising at least one hitch bracket connected to saidsecond cylindrical member.
 25. The wheel assembly of claim 15additionally comprising at least one hitch bracket connected to saidsecond cylindrical member.